Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-11-24

Judging from the detected look upon ms
corntcnancc and the occasional profound
sigh that he uttered, the subject of his
meditation did not seem to be agreeable %
him. In his hand he held a switch and, n q
half-hearted, listless way, unconsciously
struck at the stones lying in his path; or
knocked off the heads of flowers growing
by the roadside.
Ever and anon, the innate audacity OF the
man, his defiant yet careless nature, seemed
to rise superior to the gloom occasioned by
his sad reflections. Giving some object an
energetic. almost vicious, cut with his
switch, he would proudly toss back his head
and assume half devilmay-care manner;
| sing, or whistle some jolly air; quicken his
pace and appear to force himself to an inter
est in the charming landscape around him.
But, apparently, the same unpleasant
! thoughts returned once more; 4 look Of
despalring submission Oycrspread his usu-
ally cheerful face, and, with a weary sigh,
he again resumed his slower pace and de-
jected air.
1t may haze been because of the glare of
the sunlight, reflected from the brook that,
just here, Crt ssed the highway and, on the
| right hand, broadened out into a wide, rath-
er shallow pool; it may have been that, at
| this particular moment, he had resolved to
| make another effort to cast off the gloom
which overshadowed him; but, as he turned
a curve in the road. he suddenly raised his
| eyes from the ground and looked before
him.
Starting back in surprise, he quickly con-
cealed himself behind a sheltering bush,
and peered through its leaves.
Lost in deepest thought, one shapely hand
resting upon the neck of her coal-black
steed-which was quietly drinking at the
margin of the pool,-the other holding the
bridle-reins, stood young girl of marvel
GUS beauty. She seemed scarcely older
than nineteen. Her raven-colored hair,
looscned by the motion of riding, fell down
in shining waves about her waist. Her
checks were flushed with scarlet, and, from
| beneath a brow as pure as marble, her
dark, lustrous eyes gazed with calm yet
earnest expression toward the west, where
| the red sun was fast sinking behind the low
| hills.
Gentleness and repose, strength and in
! telligence were clearly revealed in that
| wondrously pure and lovely face. The soft
rays of the sun lovingly throw about her a
| golden halo, and filled all the place with its
| rudy, warm light.
She stood forgctfully, until the horse, hav-
ing quenched his thirst, turned his head to-
ward her, and gently whinnying, seemed to
ask why they waited longer.
| 'iAhl Medji,'' said she, affectionately
| caressing the noble animal who delightedly
rubbed his soft nose against her cheek,
| IAN! MedJl, you WaNcn1ul OLD 1cuoW!
| had forgotten myself"
| Leading him to q high stone beside one of
| the many huge, gnarled oaks that grew
along the way, she babe him stand still.
| Medji, who seemed to have unwOnted af-
! lection for his mistress, stood Obediently
| still at her word. Her 1.-the and graceful
| form, whose full, rounded curves betollened
health and frequent exercise, lightly sWun g
| itself into the saddle. AT the word of COM
mand, Medji bore off his beautiful rider,
| who disappeared in the direction from which
the young man had just come-a glorious
creature whom the very gods might have
| loved!
Motionless as a statue, daring scarcely to
breathe and gazing after her with soraining
| eyes, stood the young stranger
So deep had he been in thought, so far
away from the present, that he had been
taken at unavares. The vision burst upon
him like shock.
Had it, at last, arrived-tho fatal momenta
That long lookcd-for turning point in his
career. And that, too, when he least e2-
pected ita
! Among those of his own kith and kin there
occasionally appeared q strange, ungovcrn-
able spirit which, son etimes, drove its pos
SCISSOR to great eXtravagancicS; or madc
him q man of but ono OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
sorbing idea; and that idea SO absurd, so i'm
tLAICI Sl(lIIG Ic4G ulll, HO
one could be more amazed at its evil spell
thai the unfortunate person himself.
The young man knew well this sudden and
always unexpected, Berserk-lille frailty of
those of his own blood. Once or twice he
had even himself experienced it, in mild
! form, and had, hitherto. been victorious in
| his conflicts with it,
He felt the spirits sudden awakening
now. In the first fear of his struggle with
it, he groaned aloud, and exclaimed:
| ''My Godl What shall do!''
Slowly and with difficulty collecting his
scattered senses, he W2s about to rush he
knew not whither-anyuhere to rid himself
of this well-nigh irresistible impulse, that
was filling him
At this moment, there fell upon his car
gay pcals of laughter, floating down the
road a bass and treble in pleasant accord.
| He drew further back into the bushes to
conceal himself. They soon Gppearcd-cvi-
dcntly servants of the more Intelligent type.
The woman carried, with great care, a
franc on which was stretched a canvas
W. ~> Y ssssss ~, 80 oaea